Tilizees



-Qnitsh' gist jjgstwt @ffitt.

JOHN OOMMIINS, 0F, CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA,

Itetters Patent No. 74,799, diztedlkbruztry 25, 18 68.

TI-LIZERS.

filllgtrl1th11ltftlttttb in in llgtfit italics 33mm ant milking igmt if tlgi 'simte.

TO ALL WHOM I'l"MAY CONOERN: M i,

Be it known that I, JoliN COMMINSfol' Charleston, in thepo'unty of Gharlestlon, and state oi' South Caro lina, huveinventcd new anrl useful Improvements in Treating Phosphatic Minerals or Earths; and I do hereby declare that the following is a. full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art to understand and use the same. I m' i This invention or disconry relates to an. improved mode of treriting natural phosphates or phosphatic minerals t'tllll earths, for the purpose of rendering them soluble, to serve asl'ertilizenst Natural phosphates are not soluble in water, when applieil to the soil, and therefore do not act as manor-es for-nourishing plants. Various attempts have been made to'utilize phosphatic minerals and. earths, by the use hi acids and other chemical applications, but, for practical purposes, no method of treatment has hitherto proved successful. Some simple and cheap process is desired, whereby the farmer or planter can a-vnil himseli' of the valuable mineral deposits of phosphates which are found in various parts of the country, and by rendering them soluble in water, can employ this important-element of growth in plants for restoring and improving their exhausted lands, especially in the southern States. 4 i

My'improveil'mode of treatment is extremely simple and cheap, and I have found by experience that it is efl'ec'tual in: converting the insoluble natural phosphates into a'soluble mineral thet m'ay'b'e most advantageously employed in mixing with other m-anu1'es,'f'or increasing the fertility of the soil. V

llhe phosphatic minerals or' eitrt-hs containing insoluble phosphorus in chemical combination. are placed in a furnace or kiln, mill-heated to a red heat, or the mass may be intermixed with charcoal, stone-coal, or wood, in a heap, like a pit for bilrning. charcoal or roasting ores; and ivhen the massot' mineral has been thoroughly heated up to it red or white heat, it is saturated with a. solution of common salt, \r hich may be (lone by plunging it into a vessel or tank containing salt' watc or pouring the water upon the mass until it is thoroughly saturated. This treatment converts the natural phospl'iates from an insoluble in to a-soluble state, in water, whereby they may be usefully applied to the soil as a fertilizer.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-.

Uniting phosphatic minerals or earths with a solution of common salt (chlorideof sodium) and water while hot, as and for the purpose hereix. described. V

The above specification of my invention signed by me, this 21st day of December, 1867. V

' 'JOHN COMMINS.

Witnesses: i

Jonn S. Honnnncn, I." E. BURKE. 

